The choir of Thai economy is well known: Too many Bachelor graduates from Thai universities are unemployable, and about half of all graduates remain without a job in their field after graduation. A freshly graduated engineer will need more than 3 years before becoming fully productive. Asian University developed its Dual Higher Education Model that is going to cut down the learning curve on the job to zero – students learn from their real job environment while they study.
On Wednesday, November 16, an Asian U delegation led by President Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya visited Celestica in Laem Chabang to get first-hand impressions of the high level standards. Celestica Inc. is a multinational electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Celestica’s global manufacturing network comprises more than 40 locations in 11 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, supplying a wide variety of leading OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). In addition to manufacturing, the company’s global services include design and engineering, systems assembly, fulfillment and after-market services.
(L to R) Meeting at Celestica are Ulrich Werner (Director of International Development at Asian U), Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya (Asian U President), Ekasin Boonman (Executive Assistant to Senior VP of Asia Operation), Pichai Duangtaweesub (Senior Vice-President of Asia Operation), Dr. Apichat Tungthangthum (Dean Faculty of Engineering & Technology at Asian U), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Danai Torrungrueng (Assoc. Dean Faculty of Engineering & Technology at Asian U). Not in the photo are Panit Nilubol (Vice-President Asian U), Chinnawut Panyapatchoto (Senior Test Engineer), and Teerad Sengphairogh (Celestica HR).
With Pichai Duangtaweesub, senior vice president for Asia operations and his team, Asian U discussed approaches to demand-oriented education, in which students learn on the job in parallel to studying at the university. The Dual Higher Education Model of Asian University is expected to cut down the training time after graduation to zero, while students by then are familiar with the corporate culture and work environment and have their personal network across all levels established.
Both organizations decided to do the next step and to work out the details. Due to its architecture and possibly applying a Hybrid-modular Course Scheduling System, the Asian U Model is flexible to the requirements of different corporations and industries. The first Celestica students are expected to start in August 2012 with the next coming Academic Year at Asian University.
